The Middlebury volleyball was edged 3-2 by Williams in a tightly-contested NESCAC Quarterfinal on Sunday afternoon. The hosts made their 24th-straight appearance in the tournament, one of just three schools to achieve that feat. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Trailing 12-9 in the opening set, the Panthers tallied four of the next five points with the rally sparked by a pair of kills from Katie Kraczkowsky to deadlock the match at 13-13.
• Tied at 19 points apiece, Middlebury went on a 6-1 run highlighted by strong serving from Gabbie O'Toole to earn the 25-20 win.
• The second stanza was a back-and-forth affair before a 5-0 burst by the Ephs gave the visitors a 20-15 lead. 
• The Panthers answered and took advantage of a trio of Williams' attacking errors, cutting the deficit to one (22-21).
• The Ephs closed out the set with three-straight points, capped on a block by Marti Hoyem and Keely Campuzano for the 25-21 triumph.
• Williams got out to a quick start in the third set, increasing its advantage to as many as 10 points (17-7). 
• Middlebury slowly chipped away at the deficit, cutting the lead down to three (21-18) on a service ace from Kelly Ferrero.
• Later, three-consecutive kills from Lexi Linafelter brought the Panthers to within three again (24-21), but it wasn't enough as Williams' secured the 25-21 victory.
• Behind by one (6-5) in the fourth frame, strong serving from Molly Harrison put Middlebury in front 10-6. 
• The Ephs worked to regain their lead, eventually cutting the Panther advantage down to one (16-15) on a service ace by Morgan Daetz.
• The score was tied six more times before kills by Lillian Caldwell and Linafelter gave Middlebury the 27-25 triumph to force a fifth set.
• Tied at 7-7 in the final session, Williams recorded a 4-0 spurt with kills on either end from Campuzano for the 11-7 edge.
• The Panthers wouldn't go away, cutting the deficit to one (11-10) on a kill from Harrison.
• That was as close as Middlebury would get, as the Ephs were able to tally the final four points for the 15-10 victory.

NOTES

• O'Toole recorded over 40 assists (41) for the six time this season and with a pair of service aces tonight, moves into a tie for eighth place on the Panther's list with 46 in her career. 
• Harrison tallied her 10th double-double of the season, recording 15 kills and 16 digs.
• Kraczkowsky also doubled up, tallying 16 kills and digging out 11 balls.

 
Middlebury awaits its fate in the NCAA Tournament when the at-large selections are released on Sunday, November 12.